Come along to the Reading Café with master storyteller Arnold Zable

Arnold Zable is a weaver of dreams and a master storyteller. Strongly influenced by his travels and the migrant experience, Arnold is the author of a number of books that draw on these themes, Café Scheherazade, Scraps of Heaven and the Fig Tree. Arnold is the president of the Melbourne branch of the international writers’ group PEN. His most recent book is The Sea of Many Returns.

When: Thursday 12th August 12:30pm
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: $10 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 98700177 or book online - Reading Café with Arnold Zable

Cheers, Maryanne

Searching, renewing & placing holds is going to get a whole lot cooler with BookMyne

Just thought I'd let you know that we're working on configuring the SirsiDynix BookMyne app for our library catalogue. BookMyne is a free app available through iTunes and developed for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It allows you to search the catalogue, renew, place holds and check your account with a simplified screen.

Check out the SirsiDynix BookMyne site. I'll keep you notified as to when it's ready, could be in the next week or two.

Cheers, Maryanne

Glaucoma Australia - come along to an informative session about eyesight

Glaucoma Australia aims to educate the community about their sight. Everyone is welcome to attend this informative session.
When: Thursday 12th August 10:30am
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

Got a Minute? A fascinating look at clocks and watches, get yours appraised

Take the time to join Kevin Arendse from A Watch in Time at Heathmont for a fascinating look at clocks and watches. Bring along a clock or watch for valuation and discussion.

Kevin is a qualified watchmaker and a member of the Horological Guild of Australasia.


When: Wednesday 11th August 7pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Crescent, Boronia
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 97624099

Cheers, Maryanne

Belgrave Library closed from 7th August 2010, re-opening on the 11th August 2010

We’re making some changes! Due to the introduction of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) equipment, Belgrave Library will close at 1pm on Saturday 7th August and re-open at 10am on Wednesday 11th August.

The after hours book return chute will be available during this time. Also, you are welcome to use any other branch of Eastern Regional Libraries.

Cheers, Maryanne

Calling All Poets! Poetry performance workshops at Ringwood Library

In September Ringwood Library will host two heats of the Overload Poetry Festival. Performance Poet IQ will be holding two workshops to help you make the most of your poetry performance.

When: Monday 9th August 5:30–6:30pm - Under 18 Workshop
Monday 9th August 7–8pm - Adult Workshop
Where: Ringwood Library, 4 Ringwood Street Mall, Ringwood
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 9870 0177

Cheers, Maryanne

Growville Growers presents sustainable gardening using Permaculture

Discover how to make the best use of your available space and the free resources of nature to develop a productive garden. All welcome.

When: Friday 6th August 2pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Gold coin donation appreciated
Bookings essential phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

You're invited to the launch of the 8th Edition of Simpson and Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia

Join Ken Simpson for the launch of 8th Edition of Simpson and Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, one of Australia's most respected bird guides revised and updated.

Wine and cheese provided.

When: Thursday 5th August 7pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event. Books available for purchasing and signing at $40
Bookings essential phone 5967 1588 or book online Launch - Field Guide

Cheers, Maryanne

Armchair Travellers - Travel and culinary landscapes of the Middle East with Lucy Malouf

Lucy Malouf traded in her life as a Wall Street analyst to pursue her passion for food. Lucy married a chef and became a waitress. This was the starting point for her new career as a food and travel writer.

Lucy and Greg Malouf combined their skills to write a monthly recipe column for The Australian and articles for Australian Gourmet Traveller and Vogue Entertaining. With her now former husband, Lucy has co-authored the best-selling food and travel books: Arabesque, Moorish, Saha and Turquoise.

Lucy travels Australia and internationally to speak at food and writing festivals about her culinary journeys and adventures not only in different countries but with different characters, dishes, flavours and spices of the Middle East and Turkey. From hearty peasant dishes to the heartwarming stories of people she has met along the way, Lucy's presentation will be one to remember.

When: Thursday 5th August 2pm
Where: Mooroolbark Library, 7 Station Street, Mooroolbark
Cost: Gold coin donation. Turkish delight and coffee afternoon tea
Bookings essential phone 97268200 or book online - Armchair Travellers - Lucy Malouf

Cheers, Maryanne

Healesville's guest houses - amazing stories from Healesville's past

Healesville was once one of Victoria's leading holiday destinations.  Bryn Jones, author of Free from City Cares has many interesting stories and photographs from the days when guest houses were the popular choice to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

When: Thursday 5th August 1:30pm
Where: Healesville Library, 231 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 5962 4423

Cheers, Maryanne

Montrose Gardeners presents Darren Jackson from Colchester Nurseries - Winter in your garden

The keen gardener never stops gardening - not even in Winter. In fact Winter is the time to rug up, put on the gloves and gumboots, and start preparing and planning for Spring. Darren will help to keep you inspired with suggestions of what you can plant now - new varieties of Roses, fruit trees, flowering ornamental trees - and how to prepare for Spring planting of new annuals, perennials & vegetables.

When: Tuesday 3rd August 1pm
Where: The Bridge Community Garden Centre, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth
Cost: Gold coin donation please...Light Refreshments available
Bookings essential phone Montrose Library - 9728 4224 or The Bridge - 9725 1932

Cheers, Maryanne

Still a few places left for the Garry Disher Literary Lunch

Garry Disher has more than forty books to his credit, writing for both adults and children. Winner of the Ethel Turner Prize for The Divine Wind, and the Children's Book Council Award for The Bamboo Flute, he has also received numerous awards for his adult books including the Ned Kelly Award in 2007 for his crime novel Chain of Evidence.

Garry's latest book Wyatt Butterfly (2010) brings together two of Garry's crime novels featuring the adventures of Wyatt career criminal and anti hero.


When: Thursday 29th July 12:30pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $10 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 97547266 or book online - Garry Disher Literary Lunch

Cheers, Maryanne

Viewing My Account on the catalogue

As a result of a software upgrade yesterday the checkouts and holds were not able to be viewed in My Account on the library catalogue. This issue has been fixed. If members Shift-Refresh or Shift-Reload their browsers while in the Account Summary screen you should be able to click the checkouts and holds links and the information will display.

Cheers, Maryanne

Discover how to use Ancestry and FindMypast in your research

Frustrated with not getting the most out of Ancestry.com library edition and the Find My Past database, then attend this talk presented by Gail White.

When: Thursday 22nd July 1:30pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92941300 or book online - Using Ancestry

Cheers, Maryanne

Stars talk with Dr James Murray is fully booked

Dr James Murray's talk on Stars at Boronia Library is fully booked. We currently have about 11 people on the waiting list in case of cancellations. We also have James coming to Belgrave Library on Thursday 12th August talking about Galaxies and Star Clusters.

Cheers, Maryanne

Vintage cookbooks - find out about collecting and selling

Barbara, from Vintage Cookbooks will discuss the fascinating world of collecting and selling unusual and out-of-print books on Food and Wine. Anyone with old or rare cookbooks are welcome to bring them along to the discussion. This special event is not to be missed.

When: Tuesday 20th July 2pm
Where: Lilydale Library, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Cost: Free event
Bookings essential phone 92943120 or book online - Vintage cookbooks

Cheers, Maryanne

National Science Week 14th - 22nd August, 2010 - Ignite your imagination

Eastern Regional Libraries is celebrating National Science Week with a talk on Galaxies and Star Clusters by our favourite Astronomer, Dr James Murray.

When: Thursday 12th August 6:30pm
Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave
Cost: $4
Bookings essential phone 97547266 or book online - Galaxies and Star Clusters

Check out the fantastic events going on around the State during Science Week at re-science.org.au

re-science Mini-Zine Competition

re-science have a competition to let your Art and Science abilities mix by creating a mini-zine. Youhave a chance to win one of following amazing prizes:

• The chance to have dinner with a scientist in your area of interest.
• A subscription to COSMOS magazine
• A crocheted brain and many more!

The mini zine is only 8 pages long, created on a single piece of A4 paper.

Contest deadline: Entries must be in our inbox by July 31st 2010.
Categories: Primary, Secondary, Open (for anyone and everyone)

Details, zine template and folding instructions are available from the re-science website 

Cheers, Maryanne

Knox Mobile closing at 3:30pm today

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Knox Mobile will close at 3:30pm today, Tuesday 13th July 2010. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Cheers, Maryanne

New opening hours for Knox and Rowville libraries starts Monday 12th July

Commencing Monday 12th July Knox and Rowville Libraries' opening hours will be:

Knox Library

Monday-Friday 9am-8pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday 1-4pm

Rowville Library

Monday-Wednesday 9am-5:30pm
Thursday-Friday 9am-8pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday 1-4pm

Opening hours for all other branches remain the same.

Cheers, Maryanne

Grand opening of Rowville's extended library hours

Rowville Library will commence new extended opening hours on weekdays opening at 9am and Saturdays closing at 4pm (instead of 1pm)

Join us to relax and enjoy some music in the library and witness the 'opening' of the extended hours with Cr Mick van der Vreede at 1pm.

When: Saturday 17th July 1pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Road, Rowville
Cost: Free event
Enquiries phone 92941300

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Radio Show 7th July 2010

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On today's show

There is a lot in the phrase "truth is stranger than fiction". In the latest history of British monarchy, looking at the period of the three King Georges (1714-1830), Lucy Worsley has uncovered scandal, intrigue, bizarre and undignified demands on servants, and a classic dysfunctional family. Courtiers is a story told with wit and humour, as Lyn Baines says 'it's a hoot', but it also makes you aware that nothing invented in fiction is any more extraordinary than 'real' life.

 

At home by Bill Bryson is a look at what we call 'everyday' life, in fact the history of the domestic life of homes. Yet it is related with Bryson's gentle quirkiness and humour, which illuminates the ordinary and shows it as fascinating. He begins with his own home, an English vicarage built around 1850, and moves through the different rooms, examining the changes in how people have lived over the century and a half. He challenges us to think about why we have the things we do.

 

Last but not least is the latest in Alexander McCall Smith's '44 Scotland Street' series, The importance of being seven. If you don't have the 'Scotsman' newspaper delivered, you have to wait until the serialised stories are gathered at years end into a novel. There are many characters to love and hate in this series, but universally admired, 6 year old Bertie is about to turn 7, and we wonder if he can realise his ambition to join the boy scouts, rather than become the child genius his mother is pushing him to be.

---- Lesley

Get help with your knitting and crochet problems with the Knitting Circle

Lorraine and friends from the Country Women's Association (CWA) are coming to Boronia Library to help you with your knitting and crochet problems. Come along and enjoy a cuppa and a chat too!

When: Friday 15th July 1pm
Where: Boronia Library, Park Cr, Boronia
Cost: Free event
No bookings required. Go Green and BYO mug.

Cheers, Maryanne

Book Launch at Yarra Junction Library - Milk Fever by Lisa Reece-Lane

You are invited to a book launch at Yarra Junction Library for Milk Fever by Lisa Reece-Lane, published by Murdoch Books.

"In the misnamed town of Lovely, newcomer Julia Heath is struggling to adapt to life in the country, especially when she begins to suspect that her yoga-teacher husband is having an affair with the butcher’s wife."
Milk Fever by Lisa Reece-Lane - Official website

Come along to meet Lisa and hear her story. Morning tea provided.

When: Saturday 10th July 11am
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle St, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free event (Copies of the book available for purchase and signing)
Bookings appreciated phone 59671588 or Book online - Milk Fever

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 30th June 2010

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.


On 30th June's show

Family history research has never been so varied or well resourced. We keep you up to date with ERL resources via http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/family/family.htm, but we also receive material regularly from many other sources, which we display on our Community Notice boards and near our Local and Family History collections. One organisation which sends us their program is The Genealogical Society of Victoria (GSV). During July there are five talks every Thursday between 12.30 and 1.30 at rooms in the city on topics from 'Tracing Police ancestors', to 'Geelong resources for Family History', 'Finding Australian Defence Service records', 'Following your Ancestors' footsteps in Poland', and 'Old trades and occupations, part 2'. There is a cost of $5.50 per session for non-members. The weblink for GVS is http://www.gsv.org.au/


They are also holding some free sessions in the first week of August, for National Family History Week, which include 'Using Digger software for Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages', 'Starting your Family History', 'Using Archive Digital Books Australia' and 'Using Scotlands People'.

Music on today's program came from David Campbell's Good Lovin', David Hobson The exquisite hour, and The Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Cheers, Maryanne

The Eastern Regional Library Show 23rd June 2010

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.


On 23rd June's show
School holidays are here again, so don't hesitate to check out the varied program on offer. Winter holidays are also a great time to sit cosily at home and catch up on reading, so Pia brought along some new titles to tempt your housebound student.

For younger readers, the picture books and early readers by Leigh Hobbs are very popular. His characters Old Tom, Fiona the pig and Mr Chicken and Horrible Harriet are quirky and often cranky, and appeal to readers who like anti-heroes. The latest from Leigh Hobbs is Mr Chicken goes to Paris which provides a whirlwind tour of the sights of the city, with some adventures for Mr Chicken along the way. He visits the sights of Paris unaware that his enormous presence is the most astonishing spectacle of all. Trick Rider by Julie Hunt and Beth Norling is the latest in a new series about the adventures of Little Elsie. In this book she joins a circus and does leaps and lofty tumbles. The crowds loves them but mean Ma Calico won't pay the performers. Little Elsie finds a way to make her pay. Other titles in the series are On the run and Ghost Hunter.
Everything I need to know I learned from a children's book : Life lesson from Notable people from all walks of life edited by Anita Silvey includes recollections from over 100 people from all walks of life. They recall a children's book they loved and its impact on their lives. Each individuals story is accompanied by an excerpt and illustrations from the children's book, plus an informative background essay by the editor.

----Lesley

Book Bites with author Joy Dettman

Joy Dettman is a born writer, who wrote her first short stories at 11 years of age. After raising a family, a stay at her childhood home prompted her to write what would become her first novel Mallawindy. Joy took a writing and editing course at TAFE and before long was the winner of the Judah Waten and Henry Lawson awards for her short stories. Dusting off her manuscript she submitted it to the publishers and was rewarded with a contract with Pan Macmillan.

Since that time Joy has become one of our most prolific and loved authors, her latest book Thorn on the Rose was published in 2010.

Come along to our Book Bites session and hear Joy speak.
When: Thursday 8th July 12:30pm
Where: Croydon Library, Civic Sq, Croydon
Cost: $10 includes lunch
Bookings essential phone 92945640
Cheers, Maryanne

Book in now for next week's holiday activities at our libraries

We have a wonderful range of holiday activities in our libraries next week, including door hangers at Lilydale Library, Wild Animal Storytime at Croydon Library, So you think you know Percy Jackson at Knox Library and Newspaper Fish Collage at Ferntree Gully Library.

View the calendar of events and book online now.
Cheers, Maryanne

Bring the kids along in their PJs with their teddy bear to Rowville's Bedtime Storytime

Rug up your children in their warm Winter pyjamas and come along to Rowville Library's Bedtime Storytime tonight. Don't forget to bring their teddy bear.

When: Friday 2nd July 7pm
Where: Rowville Library, Stud Park Shopping Centre, Stud Rd, Rowville
Cost: Free event
No need to book, just come along.

Cheers, Maryanne